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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2008)
iustiout page 3 by Marty Davis J Foot in Mouth, Head Up Ass I NEWSMAGAZINE VOL. 25 NO. 10 MARCH 21, 2008 Just Out is doing its part to help voters make informed choices conducted by Just Out reporter Stephen Marc Beaudoin with state E ’m writing this column on the morning of the first full day of spring. To Portlanders, the arrival of spring indicates that the rain will now become the cover of this issue, managed to totally stick his head up his ass with his I 24 THE ESSENCE OF GAY SPIRITUALITY personal trainer to the publisher. My days, and nights, are now filled with remarks about gays and “special rights.” (Details of the interview can be found on Page 16 of this issue.) Readers vented their outrage in a long series joyous movement and slurpy tennis balls. In the past few years, as my previous dog had aged, we walked less and NEWS of comments, most of which can still be found on the main page of our Web less, and I realize that I had lost touch with my immediate neighborhood. Now, with Shasta, we walk in increasingly large circles, and I’m seeing again the part of Portland that has been my home for many years. Within these Sen. Gary George, R-Newberg. Posted on “Blog Out” at www. justout.com, his incendiary words quickly spread among the elec tronic world of news media, bloggers and readers. warmer. Such was the case today. As most of you probably know by‘ now—I’ve been somewhat chatty on the topic—I have a new dog. A recent trip to the Oregon Humane Society saw me returning home with Shasta, a burly and genial Australian shepherd. This type of dog requires agreat George, one of two elected officials co-sponsoring initiatives to repeal the recently enacted Oregon Equality Act, the text of which is featured on deal of exercise, which is why Shasta is now listed on the Web site staff box as site. Are these comments ever deleted, censored or edited, you might ask? Not often, but on occasion it will happen. In the case of this post, I will ad mit that 1 did pull down one comment that could have been viewed as cross ing several lines of cultural and racial sensitivity. Censorship or restraining opinion is the last thing that I want to be held accountable for. That said, new larger circles I see much change, some enveloped in sadness, some in positive change, all becoming linked in my circles of thought. there are certain sentiments and expressions that will not find a place of Homes that once had been tended lovingly by elders now house college students or have otherwise fallen prey to neglect and careless welcome in Just Out. This applies to both sides of any issue. ness. Cherished rosebushes and yards no longer receive the love and Many readers asked what can be done with an elected politician whose attention that only the retired can provide. As elderly folks age and pass personal belief system is not reflective of the citizens he represents. The away, their property is often left to the care, or lack thereof, of distant first thing to consider is that this man did manage to get himself elected for relatives. The fact is, though, that as we age, more than our homes become several terms. Is he actually speaking for his district? Is anyone in Newberg vulnerable. Our personal care, too, often faces neglect in the hands of the standing up and telling him to “shut up”? If not, it would seem that our indifferent or the distant. problem, and it’s not an unfamiliar one, extends beyond this one state sena The aging of gays and lesbians is a topic to be taken seriously. When we tor. We know this, right? He is not the only person in Oregon who feels the can no longer take care of ourselves, to whom will we turn? I find it reason way he does. He’s just the most recent one to launch into a foolish tirade. able to say that aging and elder care should be considered one of the most This is why it’s so important that we all work together to assure the 'election of fair-minded, progressive candidates to local, state and federal pressing issues of the day facing the gay and lesbian community. More so than marriage equality? The two go hand in hand. Marriage equality, elected offices. At Just Out we are doing our part to keep the flow of infor domestic partnerships, these are necessary steps to provide the rights needed mation coming in a manner designed to help you, the voter, make informed for us to make decisions for ourselves and our partners and loved ones as choices. For the 2008 election Just Out will be providing a higher level of we go into the later years of our-life. We’re fortunate in Portland to have election coverage than ever before. We are polling candidates for office on an organization, Senior Housing and Retirement Enterprises, advocating their experience, values and commitment to civil rights for our community. for care and housing for gay, lesbian, bi and trans seniors. Look them up at It’s all at a special elections coverage blog, “Vote Out 2008,” which can be www.sharepdx.org. Get educated, get involved. Don’t wait until you’re found on the main page of our Web site. Information from candidates will old. Youthful energy is welcome now. be posted there and available 24/7 for you to read and study. The April 18 Finally, it’s great to see expansion and growth at Q Center (see issue of Just Out will then carry endorsements for all local and many state Page 10). It seems like only a while ago that Sam Adams was holding positions. Are we going to appear to be totally Portland-centric? Yes, I’m exploratory meetings at City Hall to determine if there was need and afraid that we are. What can be done about other races across the state? You interest in Portland for our own community center. And now look at can write letters to the editor in support of your candidate. You can e-mail us information that might be used on our daily blog. You can help keep us informed of races and candidates who might deserve more scrutiny than what we’ve got: a wealth of ongoing activities and events. One of these JustOutPersonals.com. Our next evening is March 30. We’ll meet 5:30 p.m. initially seen from here. at Q Center. See you there. events happens to be women-seeking-women Bunco night, sponsored by reflections 15 Years Ago In Just Out... volume 10 number 9, march 15,1993 • People .invited to Queen Elizabeth's garden parties may now bring unmarried male or fe male partners, Buckingham Palace said Feb. 11. Gay couples will be as free to roam the estate or queue for the royal handshake as straight couples. • A chapter of Citizens for Excellence in Educa tion, a far-right group, has formed in Beaverton. Director Lauren C. Lilly sent a 23-question sur vey to 69 candidates in the Beaverton area ask ing for their views on gay teachers, sex educa tion, abortion, evolution and school prayer. • Dorothy Allison, National Book Award final ist last year for Bastard Out of Carolina, was to appear at a writing workshop at the Oklahoma Center for the Book, until the arrangement was canceled because of her sexual orientation. • Are Portland theaters racist, sexist and homo- phobic? The Portland Area Theatre Alliance is sponsoring a forum on diversity in the perform ing arts community featuring guest panelists and audience participation. • The District of Columbia Council is consider ing a bill called "The District of Columbia Crimi nal Code Right to Privacy Amendment Act of 1993," which would decriminalize sodomy between consenting adults. Anal and oral sex are still illegal in D.C., with penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. • The Club EX Network, an international gay and lesbian home exchange club, recently es tablished a base in the United States. Club EX Network encourages cultural exchange be tween gays and lesbians of different countries and was founded as an alternative to "straight" home exchange programs. • The Snickers LaBarr Show is a talk show for gays, lesbians and bisexu als. Shown on MCTV Chan nel 21. This month features designer Kurt Schultz and enter tainer Lauren Andrews. • The City Nightclub is once again hosting its annual teenage female impersonation pageant. Celebrating 16 years of teenage gender-bend ing, hundreds of gay youth and their friends are expected to gather for the pageant and coro nation. The Rosebud and Thorn Pageant is the longest-running teenage female impersonation pageant in the United States and perhaps the world. FEATURE Acclaimed author believes we possess the ability to lead society’s next phase of cultural revolution 8-19 NORTHWEST State Sen. Gary George roils equal rights activists; play about bullying banned from Sherwood; trans couples find legal loophole; health department launches STD prevention Web site; alliance bestows awards for service; “A Class Act” benefits future lawyers; story telling event at Q Center focuses on AIDS; arts auction benefits people with AIDS; Samaritan Counseling Center has gay-specific program; Portland Human Rights Campaign bowls for equality; Q Center expands 20-21 NATIONAL Repeal of HIV travel ban moves to Senate floor; New York’s new governor an ally of gays; Oklahoma lawmaker spreads anti-gay hate; Washington domestic partnership law expands 22-23 WORLD Iranian Nobel laureate denounces treatment of gays; HIV cases set record in Japan; Swed ish government to sell dildos; Venezuelan Supremes nix same-sex marriage; Argentine president said to support gay marriage ARTS AND CULTURE 40-42 PEOPLE Extreme perform ance artist Ron Athey comes to Portland 46-47 FILM 1975’s Dog Day Afternoon dem onstrates rare understanding of ideals of gay liberation; The Witnesses presents disturbingly realistic picture of confu sion and trauma of early years of AIDS 48 NIGHTLIFE Show your team spirit at gay athletic social 49 BOOKS Recent titles examine butch identity, family-of-origin disputes COLUMNS 33 EPIQUEEREAN March Modness 39 OUT GOING The Seven-Year Itch 43 CORNER VIEW Bright Lights, Big City 45 SASSY GARDENER Sucker-Free Gardening 50 JIM'S CLOSET Boys Do Cry PAGE 24 xplosive.That’sthewordbestusedtodescribetheMarch 11 interview
